Kalvyn Schoeman van Eeden

Kalvyn van Eeden died on 12 April 2012 at the age of 82 of cancer that he bravely faced with dignity, but also with a realistic and scientific approach. He was a legend in his lifetime and contributed immensely to the community and medical profession, especially in the Limpopo Province (formerly Northern Transvaal).

Kalvyn was born on 28 February 1930 in the small Karoo town of Jansenville, where he spent his childhood with his siblings and cousins, among them the great South African businessman and entrepreneur, Dr Anton Rupert. The Van Eedens and Ruperts remained close friends for the rest of their lives. At school he was a brilliant pupil, matriculating at the age of 16. He qualified MB BCh in 1952 from the Witwatersrand Medical School and was in rural general practice in the Bewaarkloof area for 3 years.

He married Marina van Niekerk from the Transvaal Lowveld in 1957 and they were happily married for 55 years. The couple left for the UK soon after their marriage. Kalvyn worked at various hospitals in England, including Taplow Hospital, where he pursued his interest in rheumatic diseases, and eventually became a member of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh. He returned to South Africa and was a registrar at Groote Schuur Hospital for three years. He then entered private practice in Pietersburg, Northern Transvaal, fulfilling a great need as a dedicated and compassionate specialist physician who earned the love and respect of his patients and colleagues.

He was an associate founder of the College of Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 1971 and also a founder of the Soutpansberg Branch of the Medical Association of South Africa (erstwhile MASA) in 1961. He also served a term as president of the branch in 1971 and was a branch councillor for an uninterrupted period of 46 years! He retained an academic approach, kept abreast of new medical developments and maintained a lifelong appreciation of literature, poetry and an interest in non-medical science. Kalvyn was always intrigued by science – and physics in particular. He had a passion for animals, and was a successful cattle farmer, because of his scientific approach and also to a great extent due to Marina’s valuable input! The couple were also staunch supporters of the Association of People with Disabilities over a period of more than 50 years.

His specialist practice spanned 48 years and he retired through ill-health on 15 April 2011 owing to mesothelioma, ostensibly related to asbestos exposure for 3 years while working as a district surgeon in the mid-1950s.

Kalvyn was an illustrious son of the Karoo, a fine gentleman, a talented doctor, an honest man, a loyal and an inspirational head of his extended family and a much loved husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife Marina, their three children Frederik, Karin and Vasti, and four grandchildren, Reenen, Renò, Marina and Amelie.

Christian Martin Kruger